Gov’t budget estimates inconsistent – Minority

The Minority in Parliament has accused government of shortchanging Ghanaians in the implementation of its campaign promises.

According to the Minority Spokesperson on Finance, Cassiel Ato Forson, government has lumped up most of its campaign promises such as one district one factory, and Zongo Development Fund among others, which they say are all being covered by funds from the one million dollar per constituency, instead of each promise being a stand alone project as captured in the NPP manifesto.

“What we have seen is a departure of what the narratives of the budget statement talked about and what is indeed the estimate. We have also seen a contradiction of what is in NPP manifesto as against what is in the estimate. We say this because during the reading of the budget, the Minister was very emphatic that they are going to start certain infrastructural projects. ”

“The budget says one thing, and when you go to the estimate, you see another thing. What even saddens us as Minority is the clear departure of their own promise, and the budget statement that says that aside the $1 million dollars, they will be allocating some money for the purposes of one district, one factory, and they will be allocating some money for the Zongo Development Fund. Today we are seeing the same one million, one constituency, of which they will use part of that money for the Zongo Development Fund so Zongo Development Fund is not standing alone.”

But Mr. Forson believes the amount is too low to cater for the various districts and constituencies.

“They have also taken part of the money for the purposes of taking care of one district, one factory, and it is a paltry GHC 443 million cedis. In fact, in today’s term, it is less than a $100 million. One will wonder how many districts or constituencies will benefit from this.”

Mr. Forson wondered why funds for the 1 million per constituency project had also been earmarked for projects under the Agricultural Ministry, saying “you have the Ministry of Agric and you are going to send money to the Chief of Staff for the purposes of Agric input. Does the Chief of Staff’s office have the requisite knowledge on Agriculture to procure Agric input that is required in this country?Do they know about it. It is a question we want to find out.”